Cause related marketing

We work in partnership with national charities to increase awareness of the causes that our customers and our people relate to, as well as raise funds and support our key objective of reinforcing Boots reputation as trusted experts in the field of healthcare.

During 2007/08 we raised over £2.5milion for our national charity partners through initiatives including the sale of specially designed products and employee fundraising. For 2008/09 we are continuing our work with BBC Children in Need and women's cancer charities. We want to offer women and their families the best possible healthcare advice and support, so with cancer remaining one of the most serious health concerns facing women today, we've chosen to continue to work with the cancer charities Breast Cancer Care and The Eve Appeal.

Breast Cancer Care

We've chosen to make women's cancer our highest charitable priority. 2007/08 was the 11th year of our partnership with Breast Cancer Care. Through our partnership we aim to increase breast awareness amongst our customers. But our role in the fight against the disease isn't just educational. Since we started the partnership, we have raised over £3.7 million for Breast Cancer Care. The money we raise helps Breast Cancer Care in their aim to ensure that every single one of the 46,000 people diagnosed each year has access to the care and support they need. In addition to selling pin badges and a range of pink beauty accessories, our No7 team have continued their support in 2007/08 and donated 10% of the selling price on Lash 360 mascaras, plus our No7 teams in store get involved in a wide variety of fundraising activities.

The Eve Appeal

Ovarian cancer has traditionally been described as the 'silent killer' but work is being done to identify signs and symptoms.  We're working with The Eve Appeal to help fund the largest ovarian cancer screening trial in the world. If successful it could make a radical difference in the fight against this disease and save thousands of lives every year. In 2007/08, we have raised over £0.6 million. In 2008/09 we will be selling counter top merchandise at key points throughout the year to raise vital funds and awareness of this cause in addition to sponsoring key activity for the charity.

BBC Children in Need

BBC Children in Need is a cause that is well recognised by our customers and our own people. In November 2007 our stores and our customers helped us raise more than £1.2 million for the charity through selling branded merchandise, fundraising activity and our in-store toy promotion. This takes our total to over £2.4 million during the four years that we have supported this very worthwhile charity and we will be continuing to make a difference to this great cause during 2008/09.

Other charity campaigns

During 2007/08 the legacy Alliance Pharmacy business raised £71,000 for their charity of the year, Barnardo's. This was achieved through counter collection tins, pin badges sales and various fundraising activities. This made a significant contribution to the total fundraising efforts, which also saw support for Asthma UK, Arthritis Research Campaign and Diabetes UK.